Ocean Blue Eyes

I turn on the air conditioner, it's gotten too hot staying wrapped up in these heavy wedding clothes. I sit back down on imran's bed which is strewn with roses.

it's I think a super awkward custom. of course, the groom doesn't decorate his bed with rose petals, his family does. which is why I think it's super awkward. since they embellish it for the supposed romance.

his room is twice as big as my room back in new jersey. he's got posters of some Hollywood movies framed on his walls. I sigh and glance at the clock on the wall 12:47 AM.

I've been sitting here waiting for him for the past two hours. I seriously need to sleep.

however, Leila advised me to wait on him. she had said it was rude if I just fell asleep. she also assured me that it was okay to be shy on the wedding night and that I shouldn't stress over it. well, she's wrong, I feel nothing towards Imran Mirza now. absolutely nothing.

what he did tonight was awful and I am fully certain he has no feelings toward me either. baba and Naheed have ruined my life. I switch on the tv for some distraction from the gloomy thoughts plaguing my mind. but the distraction only lasts for a half-hour more until my eyes hurt from watching the screen.

I click it off and lay down straight, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts back to the ominous fortune cookie note, the evil chuckle from the banquet hall kitchen, Imran's ill-treatment of me, and Yasir's drunken words. I wonder if it was my mind imagining the chuckle in that dark kitchen. I was very afraid of the dark.

what's going on? why do I feel like my life is only going to fall into deeper hardships?

I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until I was shoved awake. "get up, this is not your room." I stare up at Imran groggily.

he glares. "get the fūck out of my room."

I quickly push myself out of bed as I nearly trip over my feet. "then where do I sleep? "

"go look for the guest room, but you're definitely not sleeping in my room." he unleashes his contempt. I glance at the clock-5:58 am. I need to pray the morning prayer. I grab ahold of my suitcase and trudge out of his room and into the drawing room. I can't be bothered searching for the guest bedroom right now. after a quick five-minute shower, I rummage through my suitcase and find my mother's prayer rug she used to prey upon. I use this rug sometimes so I don't lose her lovely scent from it.

I hug the prayer rug to me and inhale her scent. instantaneously, tears fill my eyes.

I miss you mom, so so much.

after I complete my prayers, I roam around the home. the extreme modernity and sophistication make it feel cold and lack any warmth. baba's home didn't seem to possess such a cold touch. I start feeling restless soon and I pull away from the heavy curtains at the drawing-room windows to see outside. it's a lovely morning, with no clouds in sight. I hear the distinct sound of someone using the mowing machine on their lawn. I decided I'd like to go for an early morning walk to ease my restlessness.

I don a simple black hijab, a navy blue cardigan over a white blouse, and a blue skirt. grabbing one of the keys hanging from the key stand, I lock the door behind me and breathe in the fresh morning air.

I was very far away from baba's residence. he was about two hours away by car ride in another town.

I was glad Bilal starts boarding school tomorrow so he wouldn't be subjected to cruelty alone from Naheed and her children. Leila had left for her flight back to America last night after my arrival here. I hadn't mentioned the chuckle in the kitchen or Yasir's strange words to her. she's pregnant and I don't want her worrying.

I have managed to stroll out of the mirza's neighborhood as I come across a busier street and see joggers from time to time or people walking their dogs. some twenty minutes later I approach a more cosmopolitan setting. it's not as busy and bustling like the towns of new jersey. I actually like the more relaxed atmosphere of this town.

I read the street signs and notice one indicating the direction to a public park. I decided I should acquaint myself with it.

in five minutes I come across one of the rusted gates to the park. it doesn't appear as huge and sprawling as Windham park but it's no less beautiful and green.

I stroll around for some fifteen minutes, basking in the sun's warmth and inhaling the scent of grassy earth. I end up far from the main pedestrian pathway and no one else is around. until I sense as if I'm being watched, I feel goosebumps rise on my arms. I arrive at a standstill near a clearing by a large pond. my eyes wander around looking for whoever was watching me.

and that's when I spot a hooded figure some meters away. it stands next to a wilting tree beyond the pond. the face is obscured by the hood, it's actually a dark brown hooded robe.

what really makes me bolt in dread is the gleam of something silverish they are grasping down in their left-hand -a large butcher's knife. as I'm running, I dare to look back and to my horror I see the hooded figure rushing after me.

my mouth is too dry to scream for help. there seems to be no one else in this park or no one in the part I was in.

I keep running until finally, I reach the main pedestrian walkway where I see a couple of people strolling and jogging.

I look back again and I no longer see the hooded figure chasing after me. but the fear keeps me running yet.

I can not stop. I just need to get out of this park and get back home, lock the doors and lock myself into Imran's room then hide in his wardrobe or under his bed.

abruptly I knock into something very hard as a brick wall. I hear someone curse under their breath before I fall back onto the ground from the impact. the clatter of something hitting the asphalt next to me catches my attention-an expensive smartphone disintegrates.

"fucking hell! "

I quickly glance up towards the owner of that very infuriated sleek masculine voice. his shadow falls on me forebodingly.

my gaze makes an assessment of a very tall man in his late twenties, standing before me-clad in an expensive black business suit.

his lean yet masculine figure conceals the sunlight behind him, which forms a fiery halo around dark blonde tousled hair- slightly framing his forehead.

eyebrows are furrowed in deep aggravation as he stares down at his broken iPhone. and slowly his gaze shifts upon me.

pristine ocean blue eyes gleam with burning rage.

"you!" he growls lowly. "look what you've done."